Bolestraszyce Arboretum

The Bolestraszyce Arboretum (say "boh-leh-strah-SHIH-tseh") is a botanical garden about 4 miles (7 km) northeast of Przemyśl in southeastern Poland, close to the Ukrainian border. Founded in 1975 on the grounds of an old manor where the painter Piotr Michałowski once lived, it combines ponds, shady paths and several thousand plant varieties with a historic manor house, a chapel, a wooden cottage and the remains of a WWI-era fort. It is one of the most relaxing things to do around Przemyśl, best in spring and fall.

From a fortified manor to a garden

A wooden fort with earthworks and a moat stood on this hill as early as the 15th century and was later replaced by a fortified stone manor. In 1846 the estate became home to Piotr Michałowski, one of the great Polish painters of the 19th century, famous for his horses and battle scenes. In the late 19th century one room of the old fortified building was turned into a chapel. After World War II the manor housed a school; in 1975 the neglected estate was handed to a newly founded arboretum, built up from scratch by botanist Jerzy Piórecki, who led it until 2002.

What to see

• Plant collections – several thousand plant varieties: trees and shrubs, water and bog plants, heathers, over 130 rare and protected Polish species, and an orchard of heritage apples and cornelian cherries.
• Ponds and boardwalks – the most photogenic part of the garden.
• The manor house, with a natural history museum on the ground floor (including a bird exhibition) and rooms for art shows.
• The manor chapel – the cellars beneath it opened to visitors in 2026.
• A wooden cottage moved here from the village of Kalwaria Pacławska, now an exhibition space.
• Fort XIII b of Przemyśl Fortress on the grounds, and the armored Fort XIII "San Rideau" a few hundred yards away.

The arboretum also hosts an international dogwood festival, art workshops and exhibitions.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• 2026 season: April 11 – October 31. Weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m., weekends and holidays 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
• After October 31 the garden closes to individual visitors for the winter, so plan your trip for the next season.
• Tickets: 27 PLN regular, 17 PLN reduced (seniors, students). A guided tour costs 150 PLN per group and must be arranged in advance (office Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–3 p.m., +48 16 671 64 25).

Good to know

Allow 1.5–2 hours. Key rules: no dogs or other pets, stay on marked paths, children under 12 must be accompanied, and do not pick fruit or seeds. April–May (blossoms) and October (fall colors) are the best months.

How to get there

Address: ul. Romana Dmowskiego 80, Bolestraszyce. Przemyśl is about 155 miles (250 km) east of Kraków on the A4 motorway (around three hours), with direct trains from Kraków and Rzeszów; the nearest airport is Rzeszów-Jasionka (RZE). From Przemyśl the arboretum is a short drive or bike ride northeast toward Jarosław; a cycling route around the fortress forts passes through Bolestraszyce. Vehicles are not allowed inside the garden.

Nearby

Fort XIII "San Rideau" and the rest of Przemyśl Fortress, Przemyśl's old town and castle, the Tatar Mound and Renaissance Krasiczyn Castle.